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Di Matteo backs Oscar to thrive

Image: Oscar: Has joined Chelsea in a reported £25million deal

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is expecting new-boy Oscar to flourish at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Internacional.

Blues boss brands Brazilian a 'fantastic signing'

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo is expecting new-boy Oscar to flourish at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Internacional. The FA Cup and UEFA Champions League winners completed the acquisition of the Brazilian playmaker on Wednesday in a deal reportedly worth £25million. Oscar, who is part of Brazil's squad for London 2012 and played in the 2-0 warm-up victory over Team GB last Friday, can play as a winger or an attacking midfielder and is viewed as one of his country's most exciting talents. And Di Matteo is backing the 20-year-old to prove his worth. "He is a fantastic player, one of the youngest to push through to the Brazilian national team and he will be a fantastic signing for us," the manager told Chelsea's official website. "Oscar is a very exciting young talent, a creative midfield player who scores goals. He will add a lot of options and solutions for us in midfield."

Competition

Oscar, full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior, is the fifth attacking midfielder to have joined the Blues this summer following the arrivals of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden and Thorgan Hazard and Marko Marin. A loan deal for the younger Hazard brother, Thorgan, has already been mooted, but competition for a starting berth in midfield is nevertheless likely to be fierce. Di Matteo acknowledged balancing the side will be key but sees no reason why his summer signings cannot all flourish for Chelsea. "It will be a challenge to make sure we have the right balance within the team so we will have to see how we fit the team together with all the players," the Italian added. "The club has always been competitive, looking to improve, get better and fight at the top end of the league so it will only give us a better chance in the Premier League."

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